Machine for making shirred curtains

ABSTRACT

A device for simultaneously shirring and sewing a plurality of parallel areas on a continuous web of material to create a permanently shirred effect. The shirred areas are sewn in such condition to tapes disposed therebeneath which are fed to a point of stitching in the device at a slightly slower speed than that of the curtain web itself. Shirring is accomplished by means of a pivotally mounted arm having a claw at a lower end thereof which pushes fabric comprising the web beneath the presser foot of the sewing mechanism during the period in which the needles are in relatively elevated position. Upon withdrawal of the claw, the shirred portions are maintained in this condition by a presser foot until interconnected to the backing strip. The shirred curtain is formed as a continuous panel, to be subsequently cut into desired lengths, and joined and hemmed as required.

O Unlted States Patent 1 1 3,635,178 Levinstein et a1. [45] Jan. 18, 1972 [541 MACHINE FOR MAKING SHlRRED 3,104,633 9/1963 Newman ..112/132 x CURTAINS P Ex i -H.1-la tonH te [72] Inventors: Stanley Levlnstein, Woodmere; Edward J. Z; :g gL E Lepow, Far Rockaway, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Home Curtain Corporation, Rockaway, [57] ABSTRACT A device for simultaneously shining and sewing a plurality of [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1970 parallel areas on a continuous web of material to create a permanently shirred effect. The shined areas are sewn in such [21] Appl' condition to tapes disposed therebeneath which are fed to a point of stitching in the device at a slightly slower speed than [52] U.S.Cl ..112/132 that f the curtain web itself, Shining is accomplished by [5 l Int. Cl. ..D05b 35/08 eans f a pivotally mounted am having a claw at a lower end [58] Field of Search ..112/132, 133, 134, 135 h f which pushes f b i comprising the web beneath the presser foot of the sewing mechanism during the period in [56] References Cited which the needles are in relatively elevated position. Upon UNITED STATES PATENTS withdrawal of the claw, the shirred portions are maintained in this cond1t1on by a presser foot unt11 interconnected to the 109,816 12/ 1870 Gird ..112/132 X backi strip, The shin-ed curtain is formed as a continuous 2,653,558 1953 rug k MHZ/132 panel, to be subsequently cut into desired lengths, and joined Kuhn and hemmed as required 498,637 5/1893 Emmons.... ....l12/132 1,296,002 3/1919 Moffatt ..112/132 1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN? 8 1972 SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTEDJAMIQR 3635,1753

sum 2 BF 3 f/Af MACHINE FOR MAKING SHIRRED CURTAINS This invention relates generally to the field of Curtains and draperies, and more particularly to an improved device for shirring curtain panel materials as a continuous web, which may be subsequently cut apart to required lengths.

The technique of shirring is known in the sewing machine an, and has been applied to individual curtain panels. Normally the shirring is required along at least two parallel areas on the curtain panel, and this is accomplished by simultaneously forming and stitching the shirred areas to a backing strip which retains the shirred appearance. If desired, drawstrings may be incorporated into the backing strip, or positioned between the backing strip and the shirred curtain panel to per mit the curtains to be drawn. In prior art constructions, the panels have been previously cut to size, and each elongated area has been separately formed using a single sewing machine head fitted with a pair of needles defining the longer sides of the shirred area. To facilitate the operation, the shirring has been made in a first direction on one elongated area, and then in opposite direction on the other shirred area, resulting in an appearance, which, while not unacceptable, is not as pleasing as where the shirring is accomplished in both areas to extend in the same direction. Care must be exercised to maintain the first shirred area parallel to the second shirred area, and where more than two areas are involved, this same care must be exercised to see that other areas are also parallel. As a consequence, curtain construction of this type has been relatively expensive, and has limited the commercial production of the same.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved curtain making machine, permitting the formation of shirred curtain panelling as a continuous web, which may be subsequently cut to desired lengths in the formation of curtain panels.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved device of the class described, in which as many parallel shirred areas as required may be simultaneously formed along the principal axis of the web, the shirring, in each case, extending in the same direction, and to the same degree in each area.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved device of the class described, which may operate in a substantially automatic manner, and without more than nominal manual supervision.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved curtain-shirring device incorporating an unusually high rate of production, by virtue of the provision of a plurality of combination shirring and stitching heads driven from a common power source.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved device of the class described, in whichthe cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the ready adjustability of the degree of shirring action obtained on an individual sewing head basis.

The objects and feature, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been em ployed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, somewhat schematic in nature.

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevational view thereof, showing the side opposite that seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the details of an individual shirring-stitching means.

FIG. 5 is a'schematic side elevational view showing said means.

In accordance with the invention, the device. generally indicated by reference character I0, comprises broadly: a frame element Ill, curtain web-feeding means I2, a plurality of backing web-feeding means 13, a plurality of shirring means 14, a corresponding plurality of stitching means I5, and shirred web takeup means 16.

The frame element llll may be of any desired suitable construction, including a plurality of vertical members 18, I9, 20 and 21, the lower ends (not shown) of which may rest on a suitable horizontal support, such as a floor. The vertical members are interconnected by horizontal members 22, 23, 24 and 25 (see FIG. 2), as well as symmetrically arranged horizontal members 26, 27, 28 and 29 (FIG. 3).

The curtain web-feeding means 12 serves to advance curtain material from a supply roll 32 to a point of simultaneous shirring and stitching. The web 30 emanates from a supply roll 32 resting upon tangentially supporting rollers 33 and 34, so that a central spindle 35 may be otherwise unsupported. The web passes about first and second idller rollers 36 and 37, respectively, and thence about a positive drive roller 38 before looping about an idler roller 39, and passing through a fixed guide 40 on a pair of vertical members 19-20. The positive drive roller 38 is provided with a sprocket 41 on one end thereof (FIG. 2), said sprocket being driven through a chain 42 entrained on an upper sprocket 43 on a shaft 44. A cogwheel (not shown) also on the shaft 44 engages the upper end of a toothed belt 46, the lower end engaging a cog 47 on a shaft 48. The shaft 48 mounts another cog (not shown) which engages a toothed belt 50, in turn engaging a cog 51 on a lower shaft 52. A belt 53 is entrained on a smaller pulley 54 on the armature shaft 55 of a prime mover 56. From a consideration of FIG. 2, it will be apparent that rotation of the motor results in simultaneous advancement of the feeding means 12 and the means 13 and 14 to be subsequently described.

The backing webfeeding means 13 are four in number, as best seen in FIGS. 1 an 2, and correspond in number to the shirring means 14. Each means includes a supply roll 60 supported on a common spindle 61 which extends transversely on the frame element 11. The spindle is supported on trunnions 62 and 63. The supply roll 60 feeds a continuous web 59, about a first idler roll 64. The web then slides in an opposite direction over the surface of the roll for purposes of tensioning, and subsequently about a second idler roller 65, a third idler roller 66 and a fourth idler roller 67, the periphery of which is in the sewing plane of the means 15. It will be observed that the feeding of the web 59 is not of a positive nature, but rather tape is drawn as required with the advancement of the web 30 as the same is sewed.

The shirring means 14 and stitching means 15 are in the form of a plurality of units located at locations indicated by reference character 69, and are designed to function in conjunction with each other. Disposed within the plane of sewing is an incremental advance mechanism 70 of a type well known in the sewing machine art, the teeth 71 of which describe an orbital movement with each stitch. A pair of needles 72 operate in the same plane, and define the side edges of the parallel shirred areas formed as the sewing operation proceeds. A single presser foot 73 clamps the webs 30 and 59 together during the sewing operation.

The stitching mechanism 15 for reciprocating the needles 72 may be of any type well known in the sewing machine art, as for example that see in FIG. 5 in the drawings, wherein a main driven shaft 82 normally rotating at l,l00 revolutions per minute transmits motion through a gear 83 to a pinion 84 on a driven shaft 85 normally rotating at approximately 2,200 revolutions per minute. The shaft 82 extends the entire width of the device and by rotating it at a relatively lower speed, a tendency to whip is minimized. The gear 84 mounts the lower end of a link 86, the upper end of which is connected to a horizontally disposed shuttle 87 at the rear end 88 thereof. The shuttle pivots about an axis 89, and a front end 90 thereof interconnects with a vertically reciprocating member 91, the lower end 92 of which mounts the needles.

The shirring 14 is operated by a driven gear 94 meshing with the gear 84, and mounted on a shaft 95. An eccentric cam 96 on the shaft 95 engages a follower arm 97 normally urged thereagainst the resilient means (not shown). The arm 97 is provided with adjusting means 98 regulating the arcuate path of travel thereof. Integral with the follower arm 97 is an elongated lower ann 99, the lower part 100 of which is modified to form a shirring claw 101. From a consideration of FIG. 5, it will be apparent that each reciprocation of the needle will cause the claw 101 to pass beneath the presser foot 73 with a continuous shirring action.

The takeup means 16 serves to advance the shirred web 30 to a point of collection. Continuous movement is provided by connecting a larger pulley 103 on the shaft 55 through a belt 104 to a pulley 105 on a shaft 106. A second pulley, not shown, drives a belt 107 entrained on a pulley 108 on a shaft 109 having a roller of equivalent diameter (not shown). A nip roller 110 is mounted for rotation at one end of an arm 111 which is pivoted for movement on a pintle 112. A resilient loading device 113 of adjustable type provides proper tension whereby the completed curtain may pass between the roller 110 and the roller on the shaft 109. The shaft 109 is also connected by belt means 114 to a pulley 115 on a shaft 116 supported on a horizontally disposed extension 117. The shaft 116 also mounts a polygonal-surfaced roller 118 over which the completed curtain passes prior to dropping to a collecting receptacle (not shown). It will be observed that by elevating the completed panel prior to collection, it is possible to examine both surfaces thereof after shirring and stitching, for the detection of possible flaws. It will be observed that by providing positive driving means at 41 and 109, substantially tensionless feeding and collecting is obtained. This permits the device to operate substantially automatically, with a minimum of attention of the part of an operator.

We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

We claim:

1. A device for forming shirred curtain panels as a continuous web comprising: a frame element, continuous web-feeding means, a plurality of means for feeding narrow backing strips as a continuous web at a linear speed substantially less than that provided by said curtain web-feeding means, a plurality of combination shirring and stitching means positioned along a common axis above and transverse to the axis of shirring at points of meeting between said curtain web and said backing strips, and means removing said curtain web from the area of said shirring and switching means, said shirring means including a pivotally mounted arm having a shirring claw at a lower end thereof, said switching means including reciprocating needle means, single driven shaft means having an axis parallel and closely adjacent to that of said common axis reciprocating both said needle means and said claw in synchronism, a presser foot, and means for intermittently advancing said continuous web with reciprocation of said needle means, said shirring claw being at least partially projectable between said presser foot and said advancing means when said needle is in elevated condition relative to said web, and cam-operating means driven by said driven shaft means operating said pivotally mounted arm, whereby the inertia of the reciprocating masses moving in said shirring and stitching means are maintained at a minimum. 

1. A device for forming shirred curtain panels as a continuous web comprising: a frame element, continuous web-feeding means, a plurality of means for feeding narrow backing strips as a continuous web at a linear speed substantially less than that provided by said curtain web-feeding means, a plurality of combination shirring and stitching means positioned along a common axis above and transverse to the axis of shirring at points of meeting between said curtain web and said backing strips, and means removing said curtain web from the area of said shirring and switching means, said shirring means including a pivotally mounted arm having a shirring claw at a lower end thereof, said switching means including reciprocating needle means, single driven shaft means having an axis parallel and closely adjacent to that of said common axis reciprocating both said needle means and said claw in synchronism, a presser foot, and means for intermittently advancing said continuous web with reciprocation of said needle means, said shirring claw being at least partially projectable between said presser foot and said advancing means when said needle is in elevated condition relative to said web, and cam-operating means driven by said driven shaft means operating said pivotally mounted arm, whereby the inertia of the reciprocating masses moving in said shirring and stitching means are maintained at a minimum. 